Facebook launches first “real cash” gambling app, only available in UK

Online gambling is still outlawed in the US, but Zynga has its eye on expansion.

On Tuesday, a British online gambling firm became the first “real cash” game available on Facebook. Bingo & Slots Friendzy, developed by London-based Gamesys, will only be available to UK-based Facebook users who are over 18.

"Real money gaming is a popular and well-regulated activity in the UK, and we are allowing a partner to offer their games to adult users on the Facebook platform in a safe and controlled manner," a Facebook spokesperson told the BBC.

However, through the simple use of a VPN or other online circumvention technologies, it appears to be relatively easy to get around the geographic restrictions.

Enlarge/ Bingo & Slots Friendzy is only available to UK-based Facebook users.

The company has also said it has added features to help those that may be susceptible to gambling addiction.

“In line with industry standard gambling legislation, all users will have access to a number of self-help tools to limit their spending and exclude themselves from playing at anytime,” Gamesys added in a statement.

Earlier this year, Zynga said it is interested in pursuingreal cashonline gambling on Facebook. However, online gambling sites operating from the United States, for the moment, are still illegal. Nevertheless, offshore sites are thriving—PokerStars (based on the Isle of Man, a self-governing British Crown Dependency) acquired its former rival Full Tilt Poker for $721 million, in a settlement with the United States Department of Justice just last month.

Oh man, this has bad news written all over it. Facebook in general is a bastion to normal and people with compulsive problems alike, and who do you think they will advertise towards? Some people never picked up gambling because of the barrier to entry: actually going there. Plus I don't know about you, but when I go to gamble it's to have fun with friends not to win; I'm not having fun clicking a few times and watching my bank account go to the red.

It's one of those unnecessary controlling laws in the US that I actually like (this same logic could be used towards a lot of things however, prohibition anyone?)

I had a roommate in college that used to play online poker for hours and hours for real money. He once played for about 16 hours straight and was bragging to me the next morning about making $50 dollars. I thought it was hilarious because he would make more money flipping burgers.

I guess poker is a bit more fun though.

Regarding Zynga and this bit of news I almost think online gambling is more legitimate than their current business model. "Virtual goods" are a bigger ripoff in my mind.

I love the fact that Harriet Harmon is against people gambling with their own money, but she doesn't seem to mind the corrupt UK bankers gambling with everyone else's in the country.

It's only recently that she suddenly is against gambling too. As part of the previous government, she was in favour of the new UK gambling laws that have enabled hundreds more betting shops to open, just so they can empty the wallets of addicts with gaming machines that are very similar to these new facebook games.

I make about a hundred bucks a week playing poker online against people who "learned" to play poker on FaceBook and decided to step up to actual poker, so I guess really I'm not on board with keeping the fish in their own eco-system in the first instance.

I would imagine the facebook cut will be 30% of the net revenue (ie 30% of the house winnings) not the stakes, otherwise as suggested the economies just won't allow a decent return.

As for VPN circumventing, I think that'll get you in to the site but there is no way the gambling regulators would be satisfied with IP geo + facebook profile as enough to verify you were allowed to gamble (age and location).

There is a reason the first thing you have to do is actually create another account with Gamesys separately from your facebook account... Am I the only one who thinks the very facebook themed account sign up page is pretty misleading though?

It is only a matter of time before this happens more widely, the money available is just too significant for Facebook and tax collectors to ignore.

Its fine for the Cherokee Indians to open a Casino, but you better not develop an app that does the exact same thing! Gotta love US laws

Well - seeing as how their culture was raped nearly out of existence and the office or house you are comfortably sitting in to type your rant probably stands on land they once used (insert relevent Indian Tribe Here <might not be Cherokee where you live>) for living and other day to day livelihoods....

AND the fact that the US Gov't views each Tribe as independent sovereign nations (just like Germany or France would be considered) as a result of the above - those Indian Tribes can do what the fuck they want to on their land that they do control. If you don't like it you don't have to gamble there. Vegas is calling.

I am so tired of people using the my great great great ancestors were mistreated by your great great great ancestors so laws don't apply to me and or I am entitled to more than you. I am responsible for my own actions not the actions of people hundreds of years ago.I have gambled at Cherokee and Vegas and both were enjoyable experiences. I just don't understand why its illegal for me to host a poker tournament at my house or buy a cherry master to put in my basement just because my ancestors were not mistreated.